Charities evoke spirit of Sure Start in call for bold Labour early-years policies

First 1001 Days Movement says five-year decline in toddler development is a ticking time bomb' for the UK

An incoming Labour government must revive the 1997 spirit of Sure Start and put babies at the heart of policies if it is to achieve its goals, a coalition of charities has said.

The First 1001 Days Movement, a coalition of more than 200 charities and professionals, said a five-year decline in toddler development was a a ticking timebomb" for the UK, and called for vulnerable babies and their families to be seen as mission critical".